Meet your new SA Committee Members!

We are thrilled to introduce you to some of our new committee members along with office bearers. We asked them to tell us a bit about their careers in water and reason for getting involved with the AWA.

Madeleine Greenlee
Program Director Resilient Water Futures, SA Water
SA Branch Committee Member

I grew up in a small, rural town on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland being passionate about working in water resources from a young age. I started my career in water resources engineering because I knew I wanted to lead in this space, and while I was always a strong communicator and writer, I wanted to be grounded in a strong technical foundation. Over time I’ve experienced a breadth of the water sector from working in operations at a wastewater treatment plant, to design engineering, and further into strategic planning and policy. I have been compelled to work in water all my life, it’s more than just a career choice for me.

My childhood in a transboundary watershed has inspired me to work on a scale where I can influence and contribute to shaping a fair, equitable environment where decisions about water governance and management are made with a strategic, long term lens and provide the best outcomes for communities and the environment.

In my most recent role as Project Director of Water for Life in Melbourne, I relied heavily on my strengths in collaborative leadership and strategic thinking as we curated the vision and 50-year strategy for Greater Melbourne’s water security. The work done to develop this strategy and the leadership from the Managing Directors in Melbourne resulted in demonstrable, sustainable change in how the Greater Melbourne water corporations collaborate on our key challenges moving forward.

This experience gained in my recent work provides a unique perspective which I am excited to bring to South Australia. We face comparable challenges and our regions require similar, extensive coordination and collaboration from multiple stakeholders, innovative policy change, resource efficiency, adaptive strategic plans and creative partnership and funding models for successful implementation. The opportunities in the water sector require strategic leadership and sound commercial and political acumen to navigate, and I have no doubt that the South Australian context has an exciting and challenging few years ahead.

What are you hoping to achieve being part of the SA Branch Committee?
Having moved to South Australia at the end of 2022, I am now completing my fourth year on the AWA Victorian Branch Committee as Membership and Sponsorship lead and was also previously involved with the AWA in Brisbane.

Today the SA branch committee plays an important role in networking and knowledge sharing across a diverse group of professionals. Moving forward, the committee has a stronger role to play in advocacy and partnerships and uniting the voice of the water industry to effect change. Where my key strengths lie in the space of strategy and partnerships, I’d love to be a part of the SA Branch’s opportunities in the years to come.

If you were deserted on an island what 3 things would you want?
Is a boat off the table?? If it is, and if I knew I’d be deserted, I’d be very practical about my wish list –

1. A water purifier
2. A machete - for cutting food and making shelter
3. A solar-powered satellite phone for calling for help

Christina Bruno
Clients & Growth Lead, Local Government, SA/NT; Tonkin
SA Branch Committee Member

What drew you to the water industry and why?
Early in my career, I was drawn to the water industry as I believe water is a precious resource and I wanted to be part of solutions that positively impact local communities. I remember expressing an interest in water during my graduate interview at Tonkin. A big part of why I have stayed connected to the water industry throughout my career is the amazing community of dedicated professionals I get to work with.

This is a tough question because most of my career has been quite diverse within engineering and not specifically in water. When I think back, the highlights of my career have related to helping regional communities deliver sustainable projects. In particular, I remember an interesting project that involved wastewater lagoon sampling in remote communities with my work bestie.

I’m looking forward to reconnecting with the water industry, surrounding myself with like-minded individuals and pursuing an interest outside of my day-to-day role.

My top picks would be my emotional support water bottle, a good (really long) book and my sneakers so I can run and explore the island. Although after recently watching Alone Australia,

1. a tarp,
2. knife; and
3. a flint might help me last a little longer!
   
   

Brionne Gay
Proposal Manager, Osmoflo
SA Branch Committee Member

As a process engineer, the water industry includes lots of different technologies to learn about and opportunities for innovation. Water and wastewater treatment are also vital for everyone’s health and wellbeing so it’s an industry that can make a real impact on people’s lives.

Leading Osmoflo’s successful bid to provide 6 MLD of potable water to Island of South Tarawa in the Pacific. The plant, which is currently under construction, will improve the health outcomes of approximately 69,000 people who have previously had limited access to safe water.

I would like to use the skills I’ve been able to develop as part of the water industry in Australia to give something back. I am passionate about promoting diversity and inclusion within the water industry.

1. A solar powered water treatment plant (configuration to be determined depending on the feed water available)!
2. An iPad loaded with as much music as possible
3. The pile of books on my bedside table that I never seem to get time to read.
   
   

New YWP Vice-Chair
Jessica Bohorquez
Advisor, Ricardo

I found my way into the industry way back during my time as a 3rd-year civil engineering student after I did well in a subject I did not like much at the beginning (fluid mechanics). I was invited to join the water research group during the summer and I have not looked back! Water is essential for society, and contributing to this makes me feel my work has an impact. I am a big advocate of getting the word out there about how awesome this industry is!

Very hard to pick only one moment! Back in my lecturing years, a highlight was when students would come to me to express interest in this area (over other more traditional areas of civil engineering) after taking my course! More recently I have been doing visits to schools to talk about engineering and the water industry. Seeing some faces really paying attention and interested filled me with joy!

Being part of the SA YWP committee has been very rewarding. I have had the chance to meet lots of people and learn more about the industry through their experiences. I am hoping to enable the rest of the committee to do fantastic things for the SA YWPs community and make us stronger and bigger every day!

1. A portable desalination plant (water is essential again!)
2. Notebook + pencil
3. Something to fish (?)

New SA YWP Committee Member
Bek Rice
Project Engineer, Osmoflo

To be honest I didn’t know what industry I wanted to go into after graduating uni, but I was drawn to Osmoflo as a graduate because of the local fabrication at our workshop combined with process engineering opportunities.
 

I thoroughly enjoy the unique challenges posed by designing, manufacturing and operating different water treatment plants for a variety of different applications. Especially rewarding has been troubleshooting operational issues at different plants, as no two are the same and it feels like a tame kind of detective work which doesn’t keep me up at night.

I am hoping to meet new people in the water industry and contribute to different YWP activities, as I have attended a few and found them very fun and interesting.
 

1. Satellite phone (maybe a starlink type of thing 😊)
2. My camping knife (has flint and steel as well)
3. Water purification device
   
   
   

New SA YWP Chair
Jack Cabonne

What drew you to the water industry and why?
Initially I wasn’t specifically drawn to the water industry, but after working in it for a bit as a grad, I found the culture of work in the water industry appealing. In the water industry our work is for an essential service and driven by community needs, not money. I like working in a space where I know my work is adding to society and my drivers are to make practical improvements for community health and growth.

What has been the most rewarding part of your career in water so far?
My work on SA Water’s Zero Cost Energy Future, their initiative to install solar and batteries at a whole bunch of their sites. I was involved from start to finish as a project manager and even though it was very difficult, I learnt so much about the industry and was able to contribute to sustainable energy for a major energy user in SA.

What are you hoping to achieve being part of the SA YWP Committee?
As the chair of the SA YWP committee, I’m aiming to make sustainable the YWP events and initiatives we started up afresh after COVID. We made so many great strides forward in the last couple of years, so now I want to establish a way to continually and consistently deliver the great work our committee does.

If you were deserted on an island what 3 things would you want?
Assuming I’m not getting off this island (asking for a boat is too easy), I’d say;

1. my guitar, so I have something to do;
2. gardening tools, so I can spend time making something grow; and
3. a swiss army knife for everything else!

Dr Kelly Hill
Senior Consultant, Isle Utilities
SA Branch Committee Member

What drew you to the water industry and why?
I kind of fell into the water industry from a start in the environmental sector (EPA), just thoroughly enjoyed the collaborative and supportive nature of the industry and am glad I landed here!

What has been the most rewarding part of your career in water so far?
Serving the water industry through development of collaborative research and/or innovation projects. These are the type of projects that make it worth getting out of bed for. Whether it’s tracking down covid in wastewater networks to help the pandemic response;  building a case for the multiple benefits of catchment management and source water protection; or building a network of innovation champions to share their experience and enable us to fail safe, and innovate faster, quicker and smarter.

What are you hoping to achieve being part of the SA Branch Committee?
Having been a part of AWA for over 10 years now and being a part of great networks, I hope to continue to build these networks and connect others to support the growth of the water industry and help to maintain that friendly, collaborative network.

If you were deserted on an island what 3 things would you want?

1. A good book;
2. comfy towel; and
3. survival skills (happy to swap out survival skills for pina colada)

Edward Stewart
Senior Engineer, Tonkin Consulting
SA Branch Committee Member

What drew you to the water industry and why?
As silly as it may sounds but I have always loved being in the water, at the beach at the pool and doing a small amount of surfing, and the middle ground between that and civil engineering has guided me to where I am now. Also I feel the water industry in particular has an aspect of heightened responsibility in comparisons to other industries due to the important nature of the asset which attracted me here.

What has been the most rewarding part of your career in water so far?
Appreciation from clients when I have helped solved major issues for them or resolve a risk they were really worried about. Helping others achieve their goals and objectives gives me great pride.

What are you hoping to achieve being part of the SA Branch Committee?
I just want to help the team achieve their goals, and be known for someone who contributed well to a great cause. Joining the AWA will also give me the opportunity to meet more like-minded people, have some fun and give me some great memories to look back on.

If you were deserted on an island what 3 things would you want?

1. Annie (my wife);
2. Boat; and
3. Internet